Israeli Finance "Trump Elects Important Opportunity to Apply Sovereignty to West Bank Settlements"

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the outcome of the U.S. presidential election was "an important opportunity to extend Israeli sovereignty to Judea and Samaria, or settlements in the West Bank."

"There is no doubt that President Trump, who has shown courage and determination in his first term, will support Israel this time," Smotrich, a far-right minister who also serves as defense director for settlers, said on the 11th local time.

"We were one step away from the application of settlement sovereignty, but now is the right time," he said, stressing that "2025 will be the year of West Bank sovereignty."

Israel captured the West Bank during the Third Middle East War in 1967 and continued to establish its own civilian settlements here despite international opposition.

The application of sovereignty to the West Bank is an issue strongly pushed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2020, the last year in power.

After Jordan gave up its sovereignty in 1988, the Palestinian Authority (PA) took over the sovereignty of the site since 1994, but it is practically ruled by Israel.